Viewfinder lens assembly

Abstract

A one-time-use camera comprising a main body part having a viewfinder chamber with opposite front and rear open ends, and a pair of front and rear viewfinder lens elements that are positioned at the front and rear open ends of the chamber in a spaced optically aligned relation, is characterized in that the front and rear viewfinder lens elements have respective integral extensions that together with the front and rear viewfinder lens elements constitute separate individual L-shaped one-piece lens components which connect to one another to form a rigid rectangular-shaped unit that can be inserted into the chamber through at least one of the front and rear open ends of the chamber to position the front and rear viewfinder lens elements at the front and rear open ends.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lens assembly comprising a front lens element and a rear lens that are connected to one another in a spaced optically aligned relation to form said lens assembly, is characterized in that: said front and rear lens elements have respective integral extensions that together with the front and rear lens elements constitute separate individual L-shaped single-piece lens components which connect to one another to make said lens assembly a rigid rectangular-shaped unit, and   said front lens element and said extension of the rear lens element have the same number of mutually engaging portions, and said rear lens element and said extension of the front lens element have the same number of mutually engaging portions, which is different than the number of said engaging portions of said front lens element and said extension of the rear lens element, in order to allow said L-shaped single-piece lens components to be connected to one another in only one way.   
     
     
       2. A lens assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said extension of the front lens element and said extension of the rear lens element have the same length. 
     
     
       3. A one-time-use camera comprising a main body part having a viewfinder chamber with opposite front and rear open ends, and a pair of front and rear viewfinder lens elements that are positioned at said front and rear open ends of the chamber in a spaced optically aligned relation, is characterized in that: said front and rear viewfinder lens elements have respective integral extensions that together with the front and rear viewfinder lens elements constitute separate individual L-shaped one-piece lens components which connect to one another to form a rigid rectangular-shaped unit that can be inserted into said chamber through at least one of said front and rear open ends of the chamber to position the front and rear viewfinder lens elements at the front and rear open ends.   
     
     
       4. A one-time-use camera as recited in claim 3, wherein said chamber has a top opening, a keeper plate is secured to said main body part over said top opening and has an engageable portion, and said extension of the front viewfinder lens element or and said extension of the rear viewfinder lens element has a resilient cantilevered snap-hook for engaging said engageable portion of the keeper plate when said rectangular-shaped unit is inserted into said chamber and the front and rear viewfinder lens elements are positioned at said front and rear open ends of the chamber. 
     
     
       5. A one-time-use camera as recited in claim 3, wherein said main body part has a fixed lens mount that extends between said front and rear open ends of the chamber, and said extension of the front viewfinder lens element or and said extension of the rear viewfinder lens element has an opening for receiving said fixed lens mount as said rectangular-shaped unit is inserted into said chamber through one of said front and rear open ends of the chamber. 
     
     
       6. A method of assembling a one-time-use camera comprising the steps of: connecting a mating pair of separate individual L-shaped one-piece lens components that have respective front and rear viewfinder lens elements to one another to form a rigid rectangular-shaped unit with the front and rear viewfinder lens elements arranged in a spaced optically aligned relation; and   inserting the rigid rectangular-shaped unit into a viewfinder chamber through at least one of opposite front and rear open ends of the chamber to position the front and rear viewfinder lens elements at the front and rear open ends.